North East regeneration used as examples on international stage

Regeneration of the North East has been used to inspire property developers Croatians, in a talk by regional expert, Kevan Carrick.

Kevan discussed best practice in urban regeneration at the 10th annual International Conference of the Real Estate Market in Zagreb.

The conference, involving experts from the property development sector worldwide, focused on successful international examples that can be applied in Croatia, which is recovering from the Balkans Conflict of the 1990s.

Kevan’s speech related to ‘A Vision of Croatian Cities’ Development’ and drew upon regenerationschemes carried out in Newcastle from the early 1980s to current examples, such as the Stephenson Quarter.

He said: “My role was to show examples of best practice in regeneration, illustrate what might be achievable and to give some guidance on key issues for success.

“The critical elements in these schemes have been leadership, vision, relationships with businesses and universities and the need to inspire confidence. There is a need for long term stability for these regenerationplans to be developed.”

Kevan, who is a policy spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for the North East, has played a key role in the region’s regeneration policy.

He was the co-author on the formation of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation in 1986 and the 2010 Sunderland Economic Strategy, and has sat as an independent board member for the Sunderland Regeneration Company, Durham CityRegeneration, and Newcastle Gateshead Housing. He is currently involved in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership investment fund and the Newcastle City Deal.

His talk in Zagreb took in some of the major shifts in Tyneside’s urban redevelopment that have played vital roles in the area’s regeneration to keep pace with changes in the economy since the 1980s.

He said: “I concentrated on the examples of regeneration including the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside’s £300m development of mixed use offices, hotels, and bars and restaurants.

“I also focused on culture and the residential and office development at Gateshead, with the connection of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge linking the two banks of the river to help boost activity.”

The role of universities working with local authorities to reap the most economic gains from redevelopment was also addressed. In addition to Science Central, this policy is being used to develop St James’ Boulevard and Gallowgate.

Kevan added: “Following a report I prepared for recommendation on the development, this area now has one million sq ft of office development, the new Newcastle University Business School, student and residential accommodation, and an incubation building of 40,000 sq ft.

“In addition, on the North Bank of the River Tyne, the economic plan will create space for growth focused on the low carbon economy of the offshore wind and the emerging marine and maritime manufacturing activities.”

The mayors of Croatian cities including Zagreb, Osijek and Sibenik, who are seeking to bring similar economic growth through redevelopment, are now studying the examples used in the North East.

Representatives also attended the event from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will be able to help Croatian cities with necessary regeneration funding.